Foldable containers in a catering trolley

ABSTRACT

A set of foldable containers fitting into compartments of a catering trolley. Each foldable container comprises a casing; a foldable closure; and a bottom insert. The foldable closure is arranged to have a closed state and an open state, and may be funnel shaped. The bottom insert may serve to collect and hold fluids. In operation, food rests and tableware are deposited into the foldable container via the foldable closure in its open state. The containers may be sealed by wrapping with a covering sheet. Several containers may be packed together in a spread configuration such as to be applicable to all trolleys in an aircraft, train, bus, or ship.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 61117190 filed on Nov. 23^(rd) 2008, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of handling garbage, and moreparticularly, to depositing rests in aircrafts, trains, buses, ships andthe like.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Food served in aircrafts, trains, buses, ships and the like poisesspecial problems to crew handling it. Especially, quick, clean and saferemoval of food is required to make flights, cruises and drives morecomfortable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a set of at least onefoldable container in at least one compartment of a catering trolley,each of the at least one foldable container comprises: a casing; afoldable closure; and a bottom insert, wherein the at least one foldablecontainer is designed to fit into the at least one compartment of thecatering trolley, wherein the foldable closure is arranged to have aclosed state and an open state, wherein the foldable closure is arrangedto fit closely the at least one foldable container in its closed state,and wherein operationally food rests and tableware are deposited intoone of the at least one foldable container via the foldable closure inits open state.

Accordingly, according to an aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a set, wherein at least one foldable closure is funnel shaped.

Accordingly, according to another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a set, further comprising a covering sheet arranged tooperably wrap at least one of the foldable containers such as to seal itand prevent spillage of fluids therefrom.

Accordingly, according to still another aspect of the present invention,there is provided a set, wherein the casing, the foldable closure andthe bottom insert of a plurality of foldable containers are packedtogether in a quantity used on an aircraft, train, bus, or ship.

These, additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the presentinvention are: set forth in the detailed description which follows;possibly inferable from the detailed description; and/or learnable bypractice of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more readily understood from the detaileddescription of embodiments thereof made in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a foldable containeraccording to some embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of a system comprising acatering trolley with two foldable containers in different sizes,according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of the foldable container ina spread state, according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an insert to the foldablecontainer, in an unfolded state, according to some embodiments of theinvention; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of the foldable containerillustrating possible content of the container, according to someembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a foldable container 100according to some embodiments of the invention. Foldable container 100comprises a casing 104, a foldable closure 105 and a bottom insert (notshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, see FIG. 4). Foldable closure 105 is arrangedto have a closed state (105) and an open state (105A). Foldable closure105A is arranged to fit closely foldable container 100 in its closedstate, such that closed foldable closure 105A does not extrude from thecatering trolley. In operation, food rests and tableware are depositedinto foldable container 100 via foldable closure 105 in its open state.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable closure 105 maycomprise a handle to ease its opening and closing. Foldable closure 105Amay be funnel shaped such that rests are easily poured into foldablecontainer 100.

Foldable container 100 may have handles 106 to allow its transportation.

Foldable container 100 may have different forms, fitting intocompartments of a catering trolley, e.g., as used in aircrafts, trains,buses or ships.

Applied to a catering trolley with at least one compartment, foldablecontainers 100 may be designed to fit into the compartments. Foldablecontainers 100 may be used in any type of service trolley, and may beused to store any kind of products, as well as any kind of rests.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of a system comprising acatering trolley 110 with two foldable container 101, 102 in differentsizes, according to some embodiments of the invention. The system isused for collecting items, e.g., rests from food trays from passengers,wherein the trays themselves may be stored separately, e.g., on top ofcatering trolley 110 and later be accommodates in catering trolley 110.The system may be utilized to collect any kind of wastes or articlesfrom any part of the aircraft, train, bus, or ship, or generally fromany source of waste in the catering area. The system may comprise a setof foldable containers 100 fitting in number and form to the number andform of the compartments in catering trolley 110. Two or more foldablecontainers 100 may be planned to fit a compartment in catering trolley110, according to the required storing capacity, waste separationrequirements, number of crew operating the system, sorts of rests, etc.

According to some embodiments, either foldable container 100 and/orcatering trolley 110 together with foldable containers 100 may bewrapped by a covering sheet 130 that may be selected to seal foldablecontainers 100 and protect from spillage of rests.

Foldable containers 100 may be stored in an unfolded state and foldedafter food is served in the aircraft, train, bus, or ship. Foldablecontainers 100 may then be folded and inserted into the cateringtrolley. A set of foldable containers 101, 102 may be stored as a kit,wherein the foldable containers in each kit fit all compartments incatering trolley 110.

According to some embodiments of the invention. Foldable containers 100may be integrated within catering trolley 110 in different ways. Forexample, foldable containers 100 may be connected to the inner sides ofcatering trolley 110 in a folded or unfolded states. Foldable containers100 may line the inner sides of catering trolley 110 from within.Foldable containers 100 may be positioned in a contracted state withincatering trolley 110 e.g., with their side interfolded, or separatedinto two parts, which may be integrated in operation. A mechanism may beused to activate foldable containers 100 placed within catering trolley110—e.g., a sliding mechanism or an inflating mechanism.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of foldable container 100 ina spread state, according to some embodiments of the invention. Foldablecontainer 100 is produced in the spread state. After production,foldable container 100 is folded and assembled according to the markedlines and tabs. Afterwards, foldable container 100 is brought to aflattened state which is operatively the standby state of foldablecontainer 100. In the flattened state foldable container 100 may bepacked, eventually with accessories such as a funnel (such as foldableclosure 105B in a funnel design, FIG. 3B) or the bottom insert (120, seeFIG. 4), and easily stored, e.g., attached to a catering trolley, or ina pack in an aircraft, train, bus, or ship. Foldable container 100 isthen easily transformed into operating state by erecting its sides,e.g., by an aircraft, ship, bus or train crew.

Foldable closure 105 may or may not be an integral part of foldablecontainer 100. Foldable closure 105 may either be connected to casing104 in spread form, or be mounted upon folding of foldable container100.

Foldable container 100 may comprise a cover 107 that may be used forfurther rests deposition or for insertion of products into foldablecontainer 100.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a bottom insert 120 to foldablecontainer 100, in an unfolded state, according to some embodiments ofthe invention. Folding lines and tabs are indicated. Bottom insert 120may be folded to the form of a tray, inserted into foldable container100 and be used for collecting fluids from the food rests. Bottom insert120 may hold the fluids and enable a clean removal of the fluids. Bottominsert 120 may be curved inwardly such as to hold a specified amount offluid.

Bottom insert 120 may be packed together with foldable container 100 asa unit for application in an catering or service trolley. The operativedepth of bottom insert 120 may be adjusted to the expected amount offluid in respect to the kinds of rests foldable container 100 isarranged to handle.

Bottom insert 120 may be part of foldable container 100 in the unfoldedstate, or be a separate part connectable to foldable container 100before using foldable container 100 either in the folded or the unfoldedstate. Bottom insert 120 may be supplied in its folded or unfoldedstate.

Foldable container 100 may be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, or anyother foldable, disposable or recyclable material.

Foldable container 100 may further comprise a funnel (not shown)arranged to allow easy deposition into foldable container 100. Thefunnel may be attached to foldable container 100 in the unfolded form.The funnel may be produced separately from foldable container 100 andattached to it by gluing, attaching or assembling.

Foldable container 100 may comprise various openings for variouspurposes. For example, foldable container 100 may comprise an upperopening for pouring rests into foldable container 100 and a side openingfor inserting products.

Foldable container 100 may be impervious and prevent leakage of fluidsand spreading of smell. Foldable container 100 may further comprisemeans for neutralizing smells, for suppressing decomposition, forchanging the viscosity of the fluids etc. Alternatively foldablecontainer 100 may be used with dry garbage only.

Foldable closure 105 may be located on either the narrow side offoldable container 100, on its wide side, or both narrow sides offoldable container 100, in order to allow operational flexibility.Foldable closure 105 may be opened by pulling or by rolling aside ashutter. Foldable closure 105 may be opened by removing a cover.Foldable closure 105 may be located on the top of foldable container 100and be opened by moving a shutter along rails.

Foldable container 100 may comprise several cells with respectiveopenings. Each cell may be constructed to receive different kinds ofrests, e.g., such as to support waste separation and ease furthertreatment.

Foldable container 100 may further comprise a bottom opening of quickremoval of its content.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of foldable container 100illustrating possible content, according to some embodiments of theinvention. Foldable container 100 may comprise product reserves 140(FIG. 5A) in an unused state, or rests 95 upon bottom insert 120.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable containers 100may be used in sets that fir in number and formation of foldablecontainers 100 certain configurations of catering trolleys 110. Sets ofcasings 104, foldable closures 105 and bottom inserts 120 of severalfoldable containers 100 may be packed together in a quantity used on anaircraft, train, bus, or ship. Many foldable containers 100 may bepacked in an unfolded state and tied together by a band.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable container 100may further comprises a plurality of tabs 108 arranged to allow foldingfoldable container 100 to an operational state. Tabs 108 may be arrangedto allow sealing foldable container 100.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable containers 100may be removed from catering trolley 110 with rests 95 or after removingrests 95. In both cases, foldable container 100 is sealed to preventleakage of fluids from rests 95.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementationof the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “anembodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to thesame embodiments.

Although various features of the invention may be described in thecontext of a single embodiment, the features may also be providedseparately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although theinvention may be described herein in the context of separate embodimentsfor clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a singleembodiment.

Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”,“one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but notnecessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employedherein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptivepurpose only.

The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may bebetter understood with reference to the accompanying description,figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construea limitation to an application of the invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carriedout or practiced in various ways and that the invention can beimplemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in thedescription above.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”,“consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude theaddition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers orgroups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifyingcomponents, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, thatdoes not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to“a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there isonly one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that acomponent, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can”or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure,or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may beused to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to thosediagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow neednot move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the sameorder as illustrated and described.

The descriptions, examples, and materials presented in the claims andthe specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather asillustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to becommonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which theinvention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice withmethods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles,referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated intheir entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if eachindividual publication was specifically and individually indicated to beincorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of anyreference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shallnot be construed as an admission that such reference is available asprior art to the present invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on thescope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of thepreferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, andapplications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly,the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus farbeen described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

1. A set of at least one foldable container in at least one compartmentof a catering trolley, each of the at least one foldable containercomprises: a casing; a foldable closure; and a bottom insert, whereinthe at least one foldable container is designed to fit into the at leastone compartment of the catering trolley; wherein the foldable closure isarranged to have a closed state and an open state; wherein the foldableclosure is arranged to fit closely the at least one foldable containerin its closed state; wherein the bottom insert is arranged to collectand hold fluids; and wherein operationally rests are deposited into oneof the at least one foldable container via the foldable closure in itsopen state.
 2. The set of claim 1, wherein operationally rests aredeposited into one of the at least one foldable container via thefoldable closure in its open state.
 3. The set of claim 1, wherein theat least one container comprise several cells with respective openings.4. The set of claim 1, wherein at least one foldable closure is funnelshaped.
 5. The set of claim 1, wherein each of the foldable containersfurther comprises handles.
 6. The set of claim 1, wherein in the closedstate, the foldable container is used to store products.
 7. The set ofclaim 1, further comprising a covering sheet arranged to operably wrapat least one of the foldable containers such as to seal it and preventspillage of fluids therefrom.
 8. The set of claim 1, further comprisinga covering sheet arranged to operably wrap the catering trolley with thefoldable containers such as to seal the catering trolley and preventspillage of fluids therefrom.
 9. The set of claim 1, wherein the casing,the foldable closure and the bottom insert of a plurality of foldablecontainers are packed together in a quantity used on at least one of: anaircraft, a train, a bus, a ship.
 10. The set of claim 1, wherein thecasing further comprises a cover arranged to allow inserting productsinto the foldable container.
 11. The set of claim 1, wherein the bottominsert is curved inwardly such as to hold a specified amount of fluid.12. The set of claim 1, wherein the foldable container is made of atleast one of: paper; and cardboard.
 13. The set of claim 1, wherein theat least one foldable container comprises a plurality of foldablecontainers in an unfolded state tied together by a band.
 14. The set ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one foldable container further comprises aplurality of tabs arranged to allow folding the foldable container to anoperational state.
 15. The set of claim 12, wherein the tabs arearranged to allow sealing the foldable container.
 16. The set of claim1, wherein the at least one foldable container comprises multipleopenings.
 17. The set of claim 14, wherein the at least one foldablecontainer comprises an upper opening for rests and a side opening forproducts.